Taking Social Action: A Community-Based Approach to Addressing Social Issues

For this assignment you will :
Take research-informed social action to address the problem in your community. Social action can be in the form of:
Social Policy ( Examples: writing and sending letters to elected officials, meeting with an elected official, etc.)
Social Advocacy (Examples: educating others about the problem, helping others in the community to address the problem, volunteering, mobilizing others, etc.)
Innovation ( Examples: create a policy proposal and share it with a policy maker. Create and implement a program. Work with advocacy groups to try an untested or unique approach.
*Please note that posting something to social media, YouTube, TikTok, etc. is NOT considered taking a social action. This is a very passive way of spreading information but is not an acceptable “social action” for this assignment.*
Add information to your presentation about the social action you took to address the social problem. You just need to have the written part of the presentation organized.
Note: While there is an expectation that you will make edits and changes to Milestone 2 before your final submission, this “Milestone 3” assignment *ONLY* grades the new slides on the social action. You can submit all of the presentation, or you can choose to only submit the slides on social action.

Struggling with where to start this assignment? Follow this guide to tackle your assignment easily!

Social Action Taken to Address the Problem in My Community

Introduction

For this assignment, I chose to take a social action to address an issue in my community that I believe requires immediate attention: Access to affordable mental health services. Mental health has long been a stigmatized issue, but with recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and rising stress levels, the need for accessible services is more urgent than ever.

Social Policy

To take action, I focused on social policy as my method of engagement. I decided to write a letter to my elected officials, urging them to prioritize funding for mental health programs and initiatives that could make services more affordable and accessible to underserved populations. My letter included:

1. Problem Identification:
   I outlined the current state of mental health access in our community, including statistics on the number of individuals affected, and the challenges they face due to a lack of affordable services.
2. Impact on the Community:
   I discussed the impact on families, the workforce, and community wellbeing, highlighting how untreated mental health issues can lead to increased healthcare costs, decreased productivity, and social instability.
3. Policy Recommendations:
   I suggested policies that could improve access to mental health care, such as:
   • Increased funding for mental health programs.
   • Implementation of mental health screenings in schools, workplaces, and community centers.
   • Expansion of insurance coverage to include comprehensive mental health services.

Social Advocacy

In addition to addressing social policy, I also engaged in social advocacy. My primary advocacy work included:

1. Educating the Community:
   I organized a series of informational sessions in local community centers, where I educated individuals about the importance of mental health and the resources available to them. I collaborated with local health professionals to provide information and resources on low-cost counseling, therapy services, and helplines.
2. Volunteering:
   I volunteered at a local mental health clinic that provides free or sliding scale services to individuals without insurance. My role was to assist with outreach efforts, help people understand their options for care, and guide them in filling out necessary paperwork.
3. Mobilizing Others:
   I reached out to local advocacy groups and schools to create a coalition of concerned individuals, urging them to participate in community events and campaigns that focus on raising awareness and funds for mental health services. The goal was to bring collective attention to the need for better mental health infrastructure.

Innovation

To further expand my social action efforts, I decided to focus on innovation. I worked with local mental health professionals to develop a mental health awareness program designed specifically for schools, focusing on destigmatizing mental health and providing young people with the tools to seek help. The program aimed to:

1. Raise Awareness:
   The program includes workshops, guest speakers, and informational materials to help students, teachers, and parents understand mental health issues and the resources available to them.
2. Provide Direct Resources:
   I worked with local clinics to ensure that information about free counseling, workshops, and support groups was included in the program materials, ensuring students have access to immediate resources.
3. Create a Long-Term Impact:
   By implementing this program within schools, I aimed to normalize discussions around mental health and create a culture of support and understanding, reducing the stigma that often prevents individuals from seeking help.

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Conclusion

By engaging in social policy, social advocacy, and innovation, I’ve made meaningful strides toward addressing the issue of access to affordable mental health services in my community. Through letters to elected officials, educating others, volunteering, and launching an innovative awareness program, I have contributed to creating a more supportive and informed community. I will continue to work with local organizations to ensure that mental health services are accessible and affordable for all members of the community.

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